Level-indicating tank hopper



Aug.- 20, 1929. R. J. c. TAMPIER LEVEL INDICATING TANK HOPPER Filed April 27, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l 22 INVEIVWR r m. r m m n 1 ms Aug. 20, 1929. R. J. c. TAMPIER LEVEL INDICATING TANK HOPPER Filed April 27, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 w M F 4 T 5 Mm 2 1 I l v/d/ f/l/ {1A A 5 2 I //VV/ VYK I wry/m4 Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

RENE JEAN OAMILLE TAMPIER, OF BOULOGNE-SUR-SEINE, FRANCE.

LEVEL-INDICATING TANK HOPPER.

Application filed April 27, 1925, Serial The present invention relates to an improved closure device for liquid-containing tanks or receptacles which is specially constructed with the object of indicating the level of the liquid when in place and, further, of being securely locked against unauthorized removal. According to the invention, this device takes the form of a narrow cap which is hinged to a collar that encircles the filling opening of the receptacle and has disposed within it a pivotallymounted pointer or the like for cooperation with externally-visible graduations provided on the cap. The pointer itself is actuated by a float lever in the receptacle through the intermediary of a transmission element; and this element is so arranged that the pointer engages it when the lid is closed, but is withdrawn from engagement when the lid is opened, so that there is provided, in effect, a train or connection between the float lever and the pointer which is broken or interrupted in one position of the cap or lid and is closed or completed in the other position.

This openable or breakable operating connection constitutes the most important feature of the invention; but other and further features are also involved, as will be explained, and the invention is to be understood as susceptible of modifications and changes within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the complete invention in use;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental view, generally similar to Fig. 1 but showing the cap or closure equipped with a locking device;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1, with only the hinge pin and the pointer axle appear ing in dotted lines;

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged detail views, respectively, of the lock spindle and its associated spring keeper.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 22 indicates a tank or receptacle of suitable size, shape and material having a filling opening or throat 1 in its top wall which is provided with an externally-threaded flange 1'. The latter carries, in screw-threaded engagement with it, a collar 25 which is provided, in turn, at its upper edge, with No. 26,256, and in France May 6, 1924.

an inwardly-projecting flange 25'; and between the two flanges 1 and 25' there is clamped a ring or washer 21 having a perforated lug 21 extending inwardly from it.

The collar 25 serves as a support for a cap, lid or closure which, in the construction illustrated, consists of a flat, relatively-narrow body portion 23 and a flat circular base portion 23, the body portion 23'being hollow and extending vertically from the base 23. The cap and collar are hinged together, as indicated at 26, so that the former can thus be swung over to one side to uncover the filling opening 1, and then back into position to close it again; and in order to provide a tight joint between the two parts, the collar may be formed with an annular rib 27 which projects into a groove 28 in the under face of the cap base 23 and engages a packing ring or washer 28 seated therein. A spring blade or keeper 24 may also be fastened to the under part of the cap base at the opposite side from the hinge 26, for engagement with a beveled portion of the side face of collar 25 in order to retain the cap in closed position.

One of the two side walls of the cap 23 which. it will be remembered, has a narrow box-like shape, is provided with a transparent panel 5 whereon a series of graduations is marked indicating different definite quantities of liquid; and across the scale thereby formed moves an indicating device or pointer 15, pivoted on a cross-pin or axle 16 that is mounted transversely of and within the cap, the arrangement being such, therefore, that the position of the pointer end relative to the graduations can be seen from the outside.

The movements of the pointer take place consequent upon changes in the level of the liquid inside the tank and are effected through the agency of a lever 7 provided at one end with a float 6 and pivoted at its other end for swinging movement about a pin or shaft 8 that. is carried by a bracket 9. The latter is disposed within the tank and is fastened to the lower end of a tubular support or guide 10, the upper end of which is soldered in the perforation in lug 21'. A rod 12 fits slidably in tube 10 for vertical movement in either direction and projects at both ends beyond the tube, its lower end resting on the float lever 7 so that the rising and falling movements of the lever will produce up and down movements of said rod. These movements of the rod are utilized to control the movements of the pointer, which latter is provided for that purpose with a laterally-projecting arm 14 which is designed to engage the upper end of the rod and is heavy enough to produce a counter-clockwise movement of the pointer when the position of the rod permits, as will be understood from Fig. 2. If desired, both ends of the transmission rod may be headed, but that is not essential.

From what has already been stated, it will be apparent that the engagement of the transmission rod and the arm or projection lt on the pointer occurs when-and only when the cap 23 is in closed position. When the cap is swung over to one side to uncover the filling opening, the pointer and its projection will be carried away from the rod to a position outside or beyond its path of movement, and the connection between the float lever and the pointer will be interrupted or broken, and will remain so until the cap is I moved back again to closed position, when the connection is completed or closed.

The modified arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2 differs from the first form only in that a lock is provided to prevent the cap from being opened. The throat flange 1, in this form, is replaced by a ring or annular nut 33 having its lower portion externally threaded and its upper portion internally threaded, as shown, one set of threads being right-hand and the other set left-hand threads. The externally-threaded part of the ring screws into the mouth of the throat and is fixed in place by means of a pin or screw 34 having a head on its outer end, the inner end of the screw bearing'a nut 34 to lock the screw against removal.

The collar 25*, which replaces the collar 25 of the first form, is hingedly connected at 26, as before, to the base 23 of the cap 23; and at the opposite side from the hinge it is provided with a bearing opening in which is journaled a lock spindle 30, best shown in Fig. 4. This spindle extends horizontally through a recess 31 formed in the under side of base 23, and its squared outer end portion 30 projects slightly into a key-hole or opening 32 in the front wall of the recess, so that it can be engaged by a suitable key and turned. A spring blade or keeper 29 (Fig. 5) is fastened to the top wall of said recess and is formed with a vertical slot 29 of key hole shape which extends upwardly from its lower edge; and the central portion 30 of the spindle 30 is reduced and flattened to enable it to pass through the narrow lower portion of the keeper slot 29', due to which arrangement the rotation of the spindle will bring it into or out of locking engagement with the keeper.

In all other respects, the operation is the same as that previously described.

Claims:

1. The combination of a receptacle having a filling opening; a removable cap for closing said opening and provided with externally-visible graduations; a pointer for cooperation with said graduations mounted within the cap for movement bodily with the same; a float lever within the receptacle; and a device for operating said pointer, said device being arranged in said receptacle for actuation by said lever and being automatically engaged by the pointer when the cap is in closed position but entirely disengaged by said pointer when the cap is removed to uncover said opening.

2. The combination of a receptacle having a filling opening in its top; a cap hinged to said top for swinging movement into and out of position to cover said opening and provided with externally-visible graduations; a pointer for cooperation with said graduations pivoted within the cap to be carried bodily with the same during its swinging movements; a float lever within the receptacle; and a deveice for operating said pointer, said device being arranged in said receptacle for actuation by said lever and being automatically engaged and disengaged by the pointer when the cap is swung into open and closed position, respectively.

3. The combination of a receptacle having a filling opening; a removable cap for closing said opening and provided with externally-visible graduations; a. pointer for cooperation with said graduations mounted within the cap; and mechanism disposed within the receptacle for operating the pointer and including a controlling float, said mechanism being automatically rendered ineffective with relation to the pointer when the cap is removed to uncover the filling opening but thereafter restored to eflective condition when the cap is returned to closed position.

4:. The combination of a receptacle having a filling opening; a removable cap for closing said opening and provided with externally-visible graduations; a float lever mounted within the receptacle; a transmission element within said receptacle operated by said lever; and a pointer for cooperation with said graduations mounted within said cap for movement bodily with the same, said pointer having a projection which is operatively engaged by said transmission element when the cap is in closed position but is disengaged therefrom when the cap is removed.

5. A receptacle and associated parts, according to claim 4:, in which the transmission element consists of a vertical rod guided for endwise movement in the receptacle and en gaged at its lower end by the float lever and loosely resting at its lower end on the float at its upper end by the projection on the lever, the upper end of said rod providing a pointer. support whereon the projection on the pointer 10 6. A receptacle and associated parts, acloosely rests. 5 cording to claim 4, in which the transmission In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

element consists of a vertical rod guided for endwise movement in the receptacle and RENE JEAN CAMILLE TAMPIER- 

